The Raging Chronicles

April 28, 2008|By, Kayla Pongrac

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“I used to be such a burning example. I used to be so original,” Jesse Lacey sings on the second track from Brand New's The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me. Though it may sound as if Jesse is losing confidence, this album shamelessly proves that Brand New exudes more confidence than a fire-breathing circus performer.

The cover of The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me is as dark and mysterious as the album itself. But there's always something captivating about darkness and depressing songs; sometimes you want to listen to someone who is as frustrated as you, and sometimes, it just feels good to swim in the darkness, especially when you realize that the light in life isn't as bright as you thought.

He seems like a cynical jerk situated behind a guitar and microphone, but Lacey has everyone eating out of the palms of his hands. He screams at all the right times, initiates guitar solos after a sinister lyric, and composes songs that persuade his fans to consider him a god.

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This album is unlike Your Favorite Weapon and Deja Entendu, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't compete. Brand New can rearrange their sound without hesitation, because most fans would be happy to hear Jesse just breathe on a track. If this man were to record a song that involved snoring, it would most likely be a hit amongst BN followers.

Brand New can construct, melt, and bend iron on this CD, which gives off enough heat to liquefy an iceberg. He doesn't sing “I need the smell of summer/I need its noises in my ear” as he did on Deja Entendu, but “You're my favourite bird and when you sing/I really do wish that you'd wear my ring” sounds rather optimistic for the regularly shadowy lyricist.

But then again, fans know better than to let a hopeful lyric fool them. “Handcuffs” sounds as if a disturbed criminal in a jail cell got his hands on a few guitars. For as unstable as the song may sound, Jesse and the rest of the men who make up Brand New work their magic, and an unsympathetic song becomes understandable and commended.

“Jesus” is anything but offensive, as Jesse asks “the man upstairs” questions such as, “And the ship went down in sight of land/And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?”

A song that may catch many off guard is “Luca.” The beginning is rather composed, but as the track travels closer to a conclusion, a battle of the bands breaks out between the acidic voice of the lead singer and his fellow musicians' instruments.

“Degausser” fights back as choruses of voices join Jesse's war. His weapons are exposed, and the whites of his eyes make the enemy take a few steps back after foolishly taking too many steps forward.

The theme of the album seems to be “Fight Off Your Demons”; as many items in their web store translates. This theme is appropriate, and to each his own.

Signed to Interscope Records, Brand New has once again failed to disappoint. Your Favorite Weapon and Deja Entendu have given fans a reason to put up their fists, and The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me encourages them to keep them up. Bloody noses and black eyes may result, but listeners can be sure that Lacey and his fellow boxers are exiting the rink with their heads held high.

Overall, the album is rusty and dark - somewhat like an attic. As long as you don't step on anything, you should be just fine.